Businesses Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Think pink? It might be because it’s that time of year. Pink chocolate. Pink bagels. Pink hair weaves. Pink sheets. Pink stilettos. And, of course, a boatload of pink ribbons.

Many businesses are in on the fight for the cure.

Several restaurants in the greater Washington, DC, area are helping to raise money for the campaign against breast cancer by donating a portion of their food and beverage sales. The program, called Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer, is running the entire month of October at various restaurants, including . For a list of all the participating restaurants in the area, check out the Take a Bite calendar of events.

“We are thrilled when a company decides to paint its building pink or when they allow women to take time off work for a mammogram or encourage them to get more information about breast cancer,” said Terry Music, chief mission delivery officer for the American Cancer Society.

“I want women to know the facts so we can end this once and for all,” she said. Music lost her mother to breast cancer and said early detection may have saved her.

The DC Hard Rock Cafe is also trying to raise awareness—and money—through its Pink Jams concerts, which run monthly from October to February. This month's performance will happen on Oct. 27 and will feature Dean Fields, Melodime and Vagabond Union. The suggested donation is $10.

Hanes® has been a long-time partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and added a comfort package on Facebook this year. It’s a customizable kit including a T-shirt meant to be given as a gift. Hanes will give a portion of profits to the cause.

“Comfort is more than just physical; it’s emotional, too,” said Sidney Falken, chief branding officer of Hanes. “We are proud to be partners with NBCF (National Breast Cancer Foundation) to help raise awareness of breast cancer and support a cause the Hanes consumer cares so deeply about.”

Maryland-based energy company, Sharp Energy, Inc., introduced a pink delivery truck. But that’s not all they deliver: Their customers also get information on breast cancer.

and are also getting in on the pink-ribbon action. Macy’s has chocolates and stuffed animals, and Panera is baking pink ribbon bagels during October, both to benefit breast cancer awareness.